Purse construction



NOV. 16, 1954 l, M, FlSHER 2,694,428

PURSE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1951 Unite States Patent PURSE CONSTRUCTION Iva M. Fisher, Glendale, Mo. Application November 19, 1951, Serial No. 257,068 1 Claim. (Cl. 15029) This invention relates to purses. The term purses is used in this specification and the accompanying claims {3i include handbags, knitting bags, beach bags, and the Purses heretofore have generally been provided with a handle permanently secured to a purse body. This construction, while permitting a neat and finished appearance necessitates the purchase of a complete purse, including the expensive handle, whenever a new purse body is desired. The problem of matching accessories is thus made almost insuperable to the person of ordinary means. Furthermore, it makes cleaning of the purses diflicult, and precludes the possibility of a reversible purse.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a purse handle into which a purse body may freely be inserted, securely mounted and easily removed.

Another object is to provide such a purse which has a finished and attractive appearance and wherein the means securing the purse body to the purse handle are hidden from view.

Another object is to provide a purse, the body of which can be removed from the handle. turned inside out, and replaced to provide a reversible body.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with this invention generally stated, a purse is provided, the body of which is formed with a flexible bead along its open edge. The handle of the purse is made up of a pair of frame members, each provided with a pair of depending legs forming a channel. A flange extends inwardly from each of the legs, within the channel, to form a narrow throat. The outer of the legs of each of the frame members may be extended beyond its inwardly extending flange to form a concealing skirt. The inwardly extending flanges may be terminated short of one or both of the ends of the flanges.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a purse constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side view showing the frame members swung apart;

Figure 6 is a perspective view partly cut away showing a purse body partly inserted within the handle shown in Figures 1 through 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a purse body constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings for an illustrative embodiment of this invention, 1 represents a complete purse having a handle 2 and a body 3. As shown particularly in Figures 3 and 7, the body 3 is provided along its open top edge with a flexible bead 5, which in the embodiment shown is simply a roll of the same material from which the body 3 is made. In the embodiment shown, the head is formed in a single piece, the two free ends 6 of which terminate at corresponding points on opposite sides of the bag body. A V-shaped placket 7 extends below the edge to which the bead is secured, between the free ends 6 of the bead.

The handle 2 is made up of a pair of frame members 2,694,428 Patented Nov. 16, 1 954 8 and 9 hinged together at their ends 10. In the embodiment shown, the hinge :parts of the frame members are made integral with their respective frame members. In the illustrative embodiment shown, a hinge part 11 on the frame member 8 is offset inwardly from a hinge part 12 of frame member 9. A pin 13 completes the hinge assembly. As shown in Figures 1 through .6, the frame member 8 is provided with an overhang 14 while the frame member 9 is provided with an overhang 15, which serve to conceal the parting line between the frame members when they are closed. A pair of clasp members 16 are also carried by the frame members. Each of the frame members is provided with an outer leg 20 and an inner leg 21 which define a channel 24. Extending inwardly into the channel 24 from each outer leg 20 is an outer leg flange 25. Extending into the channel 24 from each inner leg 21 is an inner leg flange 26 disposed immediately opposite the outer leg flange 25. Flanges 25 and 26 define a throat 30 in the channel 24. As indicated in Figures 1, 3, and 6, the outer l'eg 20 extends below the outer leg flange 25 to form a skirt 31. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment the flanges 25 and 26 terminate short of the ends of the frame, leaving a panel 35 to hide the channel 24 and flanges 25 and .26.

The construction of the purse body will be apparent to any seamstress. :In the pouch-type purse body shown in Figures 1 and 7, a circular piece of material folded in half may be used to produce a body gathered at the top (through the open semi-circle) and having no seams. In such a construction it is preferable to fasten a separate flexible head to the gathered edge, though that bead may still simply be a roll of the same material as the body. If the body :be lined with material of different color or with an entirely different material, it can be seen that by merely turning the body inside out, an entirely differentappearing body is available. An innerlining may be used if desired.

In mounting the body on the handle, the free ends of the bead are inserted in the channels 24 with the material immediately below the bead extending through the throat 30. The ends of the head 5 are kept substantially opposite one another in the frame members as the bead is slid into the channels, so that the ends of the bead 5 are opposite one another when the loop 40 of the bead engages the inner legs 21 of the frame members 8 and 9. It can be seen that this engagement of the loop 40 with the inner legs 21 blocks the bag body against further sliding displacement in that direction. It also can be seen that when the loop 40 has engaged the inner legs 21, the placket 7 can be tacked to prevent displacement of the body in the other direction. It has been found in practice, however, that since the forces to which the body are subjected are substantially downward with respect to the handle, and since the handle is generally sym metrical as indicated in Figure 1, the tendency for a sliding displacement of the body is slight so that it is often not essential that the placket 7 be tacked. As indicated in'Figure 3, the channels 24 and the bead 5 are of comparable size so that the bead 5 fits slidably but snugly Within the channels. The throat 30 is sufficiently narrow to insure that the bead 5 cannot pull therethrough and preferably engages the material immediately below the bead slidably but snugly. In order to remove the body from the handle, it is only necessary to slide the bead from the channels 24. If the placket 7 has been tacked, it will, of course, be necessary to remove the tacking.

While the handle has been shown as somewhat C-shaped, it can assume various shapes, and it can be seen that the skirt 31 may be scalloped or formed in any of a number of designs and still perform its function. The provision of two oppositely disposed flanges 25 and 26 not only provides a secure anchorage for the body, but provides a more finished appearance with the body draping straight from the throat 30 of the channels 24.

Suitable handles may be made from wood, plastic, metal, bone, tortoise shell, or the like. The use of plastics is especially desirable because not only can the handle of this invention be easily produced therefrom but the nature of many suitable plastics is such that the bag may easily be slid into and out of such a handle.

The provision of hinge parts constructed as shown in the drawings, that is, integral with the frame members and extending beyond the termini of the flanges 25 and 26, produces a well-finished handle and, with the skirt 31 and the panel 35, effectively conceals the body-securing means. It can be seen, however, that the frame members need not be hinged but may be left unattached as in styles of beach and knitting bags common in the art.

When the handle is made straight it is desirable to conceal the channels at both ends of each frame member by end covers or plates. If one of the plates is made removable, the flanges 2S and 26 may extend through the full length of the frame member. If both plates are made integral with the frame member, the channels 25 and 26 must terminate sufficiently short of one end to permit the insertion, between the plate and the channel, of an end of the head 5.

The clasps 16 may be of any suitable sort of which numerous examples are well known to the art.

Different arrangements of the throat-defining flanges, either to follow the external contour of the handle or to follow an independent path are also contemplated. For example, the flanges of a C-shaped handle of the character illustrated may be run straight across the top of the C. A body (which may be rectangular) provided with two beads along its upper edges and two relatively deep plackets, one at each end, can thus be mounted. The placket edges in this variation may be concealed within the unflanged portion of the channels.

Numerous other variations in the constituent parts of the purse within the scope of this invention as claimed will be apparent to those skilled in the art, such, for example, as the provision of auxiliary hinge parts and the extension of the inner legs to form an inner skirt. Numerous designs of purse body, in addition to the pouch type and the rectangular types with two strips of beading and plackets between both pairs of ends thereof, referred to above, may be used.

Thus it can be seen that a purse is provided, a body for which can readily be produced by even an inexperienced seamstress. Various different bodies can quickly and easily but securely be mounted in one handle so that it is unnecessary to buy an expensive handle for each new purse and a purse body may be provided for every change of costume.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A purse comprising a body having a flexible bead along the open edge thereof, said head being of a greater thickness than the material of said body and being interrupted to provide a pair of ends, and a handle comprising a pair of frame members each provided with a pair of depending legs defining a smooth, continuous channel proportioned to admit an end of said head and to permit said bead to be slid therein said bead fitting snugly within said channel, and a flange extending inwardly from each of said legs within said channel to define a throat therein of a width to admit the body below said head but to prevent the passage therethrough of said head, the outer of each pair of legs extending below its flange to form a skirt, both of said flanges terminating short of the ends of said frame members to provide concealing panels at said ends, whereby the part of said body adjacent said bead is concealed from view through the entire length of said bead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 851,421 Hiering et al. Apr. 23, 1907 1,414,866 Doersching May 2, 1922 1,826,233 Zachman Oct. 6, 1931 1,874,999 Hiering Aug. 30, 1932 1,966,204 Hiering July 10, 1934 2,087,615 Carr July 20, 1937 2,165,901 Merk July 11, 1939 2,612,925 Starr Oct. 7, 1952 

